Spar Proteas coach Jenny van Dyk remains confident in the netball national team’s future, despite their defeat in the Margaret Beckford Sunshine Series against Jamaica.
The three-match series ended at the weekend with the Proteas losing all three games. Their final defeat, 58-47, came in Kingston.
Van Dyk believes the team is on the verge of something special and will be a formidable force in the coming years.
“We are looking ahead to the Netball World Cup in 2027, but the next big challenge is the Commonwealth Games in 14 months,” said Van Dyk.
“Our goal is to secure a spot in the semifinals, and to do that, we must beat one of the Big Four. That’s why it’s crucial we face these top teams.
“We’ve learned so much about our players and their potential throughout this series. The experience our younger players have gained in such a tough competition has been invaluable.”
Meanwhile, national team captain Khanyisa Chawane reflected on the series as an important learning experience.
“It’s been an amazing series and a real learning curve for us all. We got off to a strong start by winning the African Championship, and we knew we needed a challenge. This series has been a great learning opportunity for each of us, as well as for the team as a whole,” said Chawane.
“We’ve shown a lot of character and grit, and we’ve reaffirmed our love for the game of netball.”
In other news, the Baby Proteas completed an impressive clean sweep in their series against Jamaica U21.
This success serves as excellent preparation for the Netball Youth World Cup in Gibraltar this September and offers hope for the team’s future.
